Dishwasher with time controlled vent



June 4, 1963 L. w. GUTH DISHWASHER WITH TIME CONTROLLED VENT Filed April12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IG.I

i- WASH f--DRY: WATER QM HEATER L I I L I L.I

ASH

MOTOR W DRAIN OPEN vENT 1 l o no 20 3 4 INVENTOR.

LAUREN W. GUTH H\S ATTORNEY June 4, 1963 L. w. GUTH 3,092,122

DISHWASHER WITH TIME CONTROLLED VENT Filed April 12, 1962 F'IG.2.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR.

o o o LAUREN W. GUTH MFA/W? H\S ATTO RNEY United States Patent j3,092,122 DESHWASHER WITH TIME CONTROLLED VENT Lauren W. Guth,Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Filed Apr. 12, 1962, Ser. bio-187,064 Claims. (Cl. 13458) Thisinvention relates to a dishwasher having a drying cycle following awashing cycle, and more particularly to such a structure wherein animproved timed venting arrangement is provided in connection with thedrying portion of the dishwasher cycle.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dishwasher of the typehaving a drying cycle following the washing cycle wherein venting meansare opened by a timer substantially after the start of the drying cyclebut prior to the end thereof.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide such astructure wherein the venting means comprises an opening which is verysmall compared to the regular access opening to the dishwasher and whichis separated therefrom.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a dishwasher in which, in theusual way, there is provided a chamber with washing means and dryingmeans therein. The chamber has a large opening to provide accessthereto; this opening may be closed by the conventional closure means,the closure means being movable to an open position when access to thechamber is desired. The washing and drying means of the machine arecontrolled by sequence control means which operates to cause a timedoperation of the washing means and then a timed operation of the dryingmeans alone.

A vent structure is provided which has an opening very small compared tothe relatively large access opening. The vent is closed by a separatevent closure member arranged so as to be movable by the sequence controlmeans at least during the timed operation of the drying means. This ventclosure member and the sequence control means cooperate to cause openingof the vent closure member substantially after the start and before theend of the timed operation of the drying means, and cause the ventclosing member to close before the start of a subsequent dryingoperation. This closed condition of the vent during the initial part ofdrying permits retention of the heat at a period when the temperature isbeing raised to that which evaporates the water from the dishes. On theother hand, the removal of a substantial part of the hot steamy air ispermitted by the opening of the vent substantially before the end of thedrying cycle so that, when the operator opens the main closure member atthe end of the cycle, therewill not be an undesirable blast of hotsteamy air.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. My invention, however, both as to organization and methodof operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away and partly incross-section to show details, of a dishwasher incorporating my improvedinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a view along line 2, 3-2, 3 in FIGURE 1 at a first timeduring the operation of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a view along line 2, 3-2, 3 in FIGURE 1 at a second timeduring the operation of the machine; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the sequence of operationof the various componentsof the ma- 3,092,122 Patented June 4, 1963chine in the provision of the improved sequence forming part of theconcept of my invention.

I have shown in FIGURE 1 a dishwasher generally indicated by thenumeral 1. Dishwasher 1 is of the type wherein a cabinet 2 is providedwhich includes, in the conventional manner, a back (not shown), sidewalls 3 and 4, and an upper closure surface 5, which are stationary. Thefront part of the dishwasher includes a base portion 6 having aprojection 7 which carries a pin 8. A door member 9 is hinged along itsbottom on pin 8 by means of members 10 secured to door 9 and arranged toextend through appropriate slots (no-t shown) so'that each member 10slides through its associated slot as door 9 is pivoted about pin 8. Inthe closed position the door is, as shown, upright in a substantiallyvertical position. In this position, because the door is provided withsuitable gasketing such as that shown at 11, it fits against the otherstationary parts of the dishwasher to complete an enclosure or chamber12 within which the dishes are to be washed. In order to gain access tothe enclosure, the door section 9 is grasped by an upper handle portion13 and pivoted downwardly about pin 8 until it is substantiallyhorizontal.

An upper rack 14 and a lower rack 15 are positioned within the chamber12 so as to support the dishes during the dishwashing operation in theenclosure. When door 9 is in its horizontal position, it forms, in theconventional manner, a guide on which the lower rack 15 may be slid outfor ready access in loading. When the door 9 is in its open position theupper rack 14 may also slide out on a track member 16. Track member 16in turn is mounted to slide out on a number of roller members 17 so thatrack 14 can be entirely outside the enclosure 12. 'In this manner, withdoor 9 open, both racks 14 and 15 a dishwashing operation is to beprovided.

Continuing the description of dishwasher 1, suitable water providingmeans including an inlet conduit 18 may be provided. Conduit 18discharges into a funnel 18a through an air gap, and the funnel connectswith chamber 12 through a suitable baffling arrangement 19 so as toprevent splashing of water out of the chamber. When water is not beingintroduced to chamber 12 the air gap provides a connection for chamber12 to atmosphere.

The washing means may include a lower rotatable water ejecting member 21and an upper rotatable water ejecting member 21 secured to the surfaceof tub closure 5, together with a rotatable telescoping spraying member22. All three members are fed from a combination pumping and motorstructure 23 so that, once water is introduced into the machine throughconduit 18, it is taken in by the pump motor structure through suitableinlets (not shown) .and is then ejected against the dishes withconsiderable force by the three water ejecting members so as to cleanthe dishes. The pump motor structure 23 may conventionally be of thetype which, when rotated, in one direction, provides the aforementionedcleaning action and when rotated in the opposite direction passes thewater out to drain (not shown). For drying the dishes after they havebeen cleansed, a suitable electric heating element 24 is provided at thebottom of chamber The mechanism for introducing water through conduit 18(which mechanism is not further shown), the motor of the pump motorassembly 23, and the heating element 24 :are controlled by a suit-ablesequence control mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 25. Asschematically shown in FIGURE 4, the sequence control mechanism providesfor a timed washing operation during which the water is turned on fivedifferent times to provide water within chamber 12. After eachintroduction of water, the motor of the pump motor assembly is caused tofirst provide a washing action and then drain the water out. It can beseen that this also occurs five times, following each introduction ofwater so that there are provided, in effect, a number of rinses (usuallythe first and second introductions of water), then a wash (the thirdwater introduction) followed by two more rinses. It can further be seenthat the heater may be energized during the introduction of water inorder to heat the water to a high temperature for maximum washingeffectiveness.

Following the end of the wash operation, that is, after the last washingaction of the motor has terminated, the heater is energized continuouslyfor a predetermined period of time which constitutes the dryingoperation in order to vaporize the moisture from the dishes so that theyare dry when the operator removes them from the dishwasher.

Sequence control assembly 25 normally includes a gear motor assembly 26having an output shaft 27 on which a suitable number of cams (not shown)are provided for elfecting the afore-mentioned control of the dishwasherelements in the desired sequence. This type of structure is entirelyconventional in the art and is for this reason not further describedherein. Such a timing mechanism generally has connected thereto, by aone-way clutch (not shown), a suitable manually operable dial 28 so thatthe cams may be turned to a pre-set position in which the timer motor isenergized continuously and the other elements are energized, asmentioned, in the desired sequence. The timer motor then rotates thecams to effect a complete cycle of operations as briefly describedhereabove.

Also secured on the shaft 27 of sequence control assembly 25 is an extracam-type member 29 which may best be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, togetherwith FIGURE 1. The member 29 has teeth 39 and a raised portion 31 whichcooperate with a member 32 to effect the appropriate operation of a soapdispenser 33. The cooperation is such as to cause the apparatus todispense detergent into the chamber 12 during the wash step, that is,after the third introduction of water. In this connection, the structureand functioning of the detergent dispensing apparatus are fullydescribed and claimed in application Serial No. 149,891, filed onNovember 3, 1961, by Norman L. Kendt, and assigned to General ElectricCompany, assignee of the present invention. For this reason thedetergent dispensing arrangement is not further described herein.

It is to be noted that member 29, in addition to the portions 30 and 31arranged to cooperate with member 32, includes a raised section 34.Section 34, as can best be seen in FIGURE 1, is axially offset frommember 32 so that during the rotation of member 29 the member 34 doesnot have any cooperation at all with member 32. Section 34 is thusentirely independent of the detergent dispensing arrangement, except forthe fact that it is made a part of the same rotatable member 29 on whichparts 30 and 31 are formed.

A vent opening into chamber 12 is formed, as shown in FIGURE 1, at 35and is covered by a shield or baffle 36 so as to prevent liquid fromsplashing out through the vent opening. In order to further insure thatliquid will not pass out through vent opening 35, a conduit 37 forming avent passage then extends around the corner and upwardly, terminating inan opening 38 closed by a lid 39 which is mounted on hinges 40 as bestshown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

It will be observed from FIGURE 1, together with FIGURES 2 and 3, thatpart 34 of member 29, as the member 29 rotates, will engage extension 41of lid 39. This engaging relationship is best shown in FIGURE 3 whereinit can be seen that the lid 39 is raised by the engagement of member 34with extension 41, and is otherwise closed by gravity. In effect, FIGURE2 shows part 34 of member 29 in the position for starting a washing anddrying cycle, it being understood that the cam 29 rotates clockwise asviewed in FIGURES 2 and 3. The

'4 lid 39 remains closed during a substantial period, as the cam member29 rotates through the period when the timer 25 is causing the washingoperation and the initial part of the drying operation to be provided.

At an appropriate instant in the timed drying operation, which ispreferably somewhat after the half-way point, the leading edge 42 ofpart 34 engages extension 41 and raises the lid 39. This opens the ventoutlet 35 to atmosphere through an opening which is entirely independentof the closed condition of door 9 and which is, of course, substantiallysmaller than the opening provided by door 9. This open condition of thevent continues until part 34 moves entirely past extension 41, at whichtime the lid 39 swings closed by gravity. Control 25 causes the end ofthe timed drying operation to be reached so that the machine shuts oifall components. Preferably, although the control may cause lid 39 to beclosed at the same time that the drying operation ends, lid 39 is keptopen by extension 41 at the end of a cycle, and is reclosed only when asubsequent washing cycle is started by operation of dial 28. Thispermits airing out of the interior of the machine between uses, whilenonetheless ensuring closure of lid 39 before the next drying operation(and preferably before the next washing operation). Thus, the vent isopen only during the last part of the timed drying operation and isclosed during the initial part of each drying operation.

By keeping the vent closed during washing and the initial part ofdrying, it makes it possible for heater 24 to heat up the air withinchamber 12 much more rapidly than would be the case if the vent wereopen all the time. On the other hand, after a certain amount of waterhas been vaporized from the dishes, it is desirable to permitreplacement of some of the air within chamber 12 by fresh air and thiscan be done without too much loss of heat when the vent is openedrelatively late in the drying cycle as provided by my invention. Afurther advantage achieved is that, by making the opening entirelyindependent of the regular access opening, the size of the vent openingmay be controlled precisely so that it provides optimum results. Yet afurther advantage is that by having the vent let out a substantial partof the steamy air prior to the end of the cycle, the operator of themachine does not have all this steamy air blow out straight at him whenthe access opening is uncovered.

It will be recalled that the water inlet opening is open to (atmosphere.This is considered desirable in order to permit equalization of the airpressure within and outside the chamber 12. It will be understood inthis connection that it is only when the second opening, i.e., the ventopening, provides a connection between the chamber and atmosphere, thata flow of air out of the chamber occurs.

It will \be seen from the foregoing that my invention provides a timedventing system wherein, as an important feature, I provide no ventingduring the initial part of a timed drying operation, but I ventsubstantially before the end of the operation through an opening whichis entirely independent of the regular access opening of the machine.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, I do not desire the invention to be limited to the preciseconstruct-ion disclosed, and I intend by the appended claims to coverall modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A dishwasher comprising:

(a) a chamber having a large opening to provide ac cess thereto;

(b) closure means for said opening arranged to close said chamber duringoperation of said dishwasher and to be moved to open position whenaccess to said chamber is desired;

(0) washing means for washing and rinsing dishes in said chamber;

(d) heat drying means for drying by evaporation dishes in said chamber;

(e) sequence control means contnolling said washing means and saiddrying means, said control means causing timed operation of said Washingmeans and then timed operation of said drying means;

( [a member movable by said sequence control means at least during timedoperation of said drying means;

(g) vent means including an opening very small relative to said largeopening; and

(h) a closure member for said vent means;

(i) said vent closure member and said member movable by said sequencecontrol means being cooper- :able to cause opening of said vent closuremember substantially after the start and before the end of said timedoperation of said drying means and to cause closing of said vent closuremember prior to the start of a subsequent timed drying operation.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said vent closure member isa lid biased by gravity to a closed position, said member movable bysaid sequence control means being engageable to raise said lid to causeopening thereof.

3. The app anatus defined in claim :1 wherein another opening toatmosphere is provided into said chamber whereby there is circulation ofair through said chamber when said vent closure member is opened.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said sequence control meanscauses said member movable thereby to open said vent closure memberatter substantially more than half the timed drying operation haselapsed.

5. A dishwasher comprising:

(a) a chamber having a large opening to provide access thereto;

(b) closure means for said opening arranged to close said chamber duringoperation of said dishwasher and to be moved to :open position whenaccess to said chamber is desired;

(0) Washing means for Washing and rinsing dishes said chamber;

(d) heat drying means for drying by evaporation dishes in said chamber;

(e) sequence control means cont-rolling said washing means and saiddrying means, said control means causing timed openation of said washingmeans and then timed operation of said drying means;

(f) a member controllable by said sequence control means so as to bemoved during timed operation of said drying means;

(g) vent means including an opening very small relative to said largeopening; and

(h) a closure member for said vent means;

(i) said vent closure member and said member controllable by saidsequence control means being cooperable to cause opening of said ventclosure member substantially after the start and before the end of saidtimed operation of said drying means and to leause closing of said ventclosure member prior to the start of a subsequent timed dryingoperation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,601,966 Harris Oct. 5, 1926 1,675,160 Carroll June 26, 1928 2,671,455MacDonald et all Mar. 9, 1954- 2,674,249 Knight Apr. 6, 1954 2,722,225Carson Nov. '1, 1955 2,778,124 Kaufman Jan. 22, 1957 3,023,757 MixonMar. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,757 Germany Apr. 1, 1942

1. A DISHWASHER COMPRISING: (A) A CHAMBER HAVING A LARGE OPENING TOPROVIDE ACCESS THERETO; (B) CLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID OPENING ARRANGED TOCLOSE SAID CHAMBER DURING OPERATION OF SAID DISHWASHER AND TO BE MOVEDTO OPEN POSITION WHEN ACCESS TO SAID CHAMBER IS DESIRED; (C) WASHINGMEANS FOR WASHING AND RINSING DISHES IN SAID CHAMBER; (D) HEAT DRYINGMEANS FOR DRYING BY EVAPORATION DISHES IN SAID CHAMBER; (E) SEQUENCECONTROL MEANS CONTROLLING SAID WASHING MEANS AND SAID DRYING MEANS, SAIDCONTROL MEANS CAUSING TIMED OPERATION OF SAID WASHING MEANS AND THENTIMED OPERATION OF SAID DRYING MEANS; (F) A MEMBER MOVABLE BY SAIDSEQUENCE CONTROL MEANS AT LEAST DURING TIMED OPERATION OF SAID DRYINGMEANS;